The Temple of the Rats

Karni Mata is a temple where more than 20 thousand rats live freely. But they are not any rodents, they are believed to be reincarnations of an ancient tribe. According to the story, Karni Mata was a holy Hindu woman and was recognized as the reincarnation of Durga, the warrior goddess. One day, a child of his clan died, so this goddess came with Yama, the goddess of death, to beg him earnestly to bring him back to life. She agreed to reincarnate him-along with the other men-in this singular form.

The temple is located about 30 kilometers from the city of Bikaner in Rajasthan. At the box office, visitors must leave their shoes because of the sacredness of the place that is more than 600 years old. Some little mice drink milk in large bowls, others sleep in a corner, while others run through all the galleries.

The mischievous animals rub against the skin of their visitors. They are put in front of them, they climb to the bars and jump from there. It is their space, they are not afraid of people; instead, they look at them with respect and even offer them gifts and pray in front of them. White rats are interpreted as the goddess Karni Mata or a spirit close to her, so they are a sign of good fortune.